The NPB announced that they signed twenty-three-year-old Ryosuke Noda and nineteen-year-old Taiki Matsumoto to umpire development contracts, effective January 1. Noda was assigned to the Eastern League (Kanto) and Matsumoto to the Western League (Kansai).

Noda and Matsumoto are graduates of last year’s NPB Umpire School. They were dispatched to the BC League and Shikoku Island League, respectively, this year. They will have a chance to become full-fledged umpires based on their performance during Ni-gun games.

The NPB will be holding their fourth Umpire School this year between December 17 (Sat) and 23 (Fri) at Lotte Urawa Stadium.